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Nandankanan zoo director eased out

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

The Orissa government has decided to ease out the director of the Nandankanan Zoo B C Prusty for his negligence, which caused the death of twelve tigers a fortnight ago. Sources said that the state government would take some more officials to task in the days to come.

It was expected that the state government would take tough action against officials for their negligence and mismanagement of the zoo. Prusty has been asked to join as conservator of forests. The order in this regard will be notified on Monday. Prusty is likely to be replaced by Vinod Kumar, who is currently conservator of forest.

The government was under pressure from national and international wildlife organisations and experts who have expressed serious concern following the deaths of a dozen tigers, including rare white tigers.

Sources said that a high level delegation, comprising forest secretary H S Chahar and chief conservator of forests S K Patnaik, is presently in Delhi to hold discussions with officials of the Union Government on the Action Taken Report in connection with the tiger deaths.

The Supreme Court had asked the Centre to submit such a report. Prusty's removal is a part of the ATR.

At the same time, opposition parties have been demanding the Orissa forest minister's resignation for his insensitive comments on the tiger deaths. None other than Union Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi, a known votary of animal rights, had taken up this issue.

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